PoorEustace！Whydidhetakethingssohardly？Ifhereallycarriedouthisresolve——andheneverchangedhismind——itwouldbetragic！Itwouldmeantheendofeverythingforhim！
　　PerhapsnowhewouldgettiredofMrs。Noel。Butshewasnotthesortofwomanamanwouldgettiredof。EvenBarbarainherinexperiencefeltthat。Shewouldalwaysbetoodelicatelycarefulnevertocloyhim,nevertoexactanythingfromhim,orlethimfeelthathewasboundtoherbysomuchasahair。Ah！whycouldn'ttheygoonasifnothinghadhappened？Couldnobodypersuadehim？ShethoughtagainofCourtier。Ifhe,whoknewthemboth,andwassofondofMrs。Noel,wouldtalktoMiltoun,abouttherighttobehappy,therighttorevolt？Eustaceoughttorevolt！Itwashisduty。Shesatdowntowrite;then,puttingonherhat,tookthenoteandslippeddownstairs。
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　TheflowersofsummerinthegreatglasshouseatRavenshamwerekeepingthelastafternoon—watchwhenCliftonsummonedLadyCasterleywiththewords:
　　"LadyValleysinthewhiteroom。"
　　SincethenewsofMiltoun'sillness,andofMrs。Noel'snursing,thelittleoldladyhadpossessedhersoulinpatience;often,itistrue,afflictedwithpoignantmisgivingsastothisnewinfluenceinthelifeofherfavourite,affectedtoobyasortofjealousy,nottobeadmitted,eveninherprayers,which,thoughregularenough,wereperhapssomewhatformal。Havingsmalllikingnowforleavinghome,evenforCatton,hercountryplace,shewasstillatRavensham,whereLordDennishadcomeuptostaywithherassoonasMiltounhadleftSeaHouse。ButLadyCasterleywasneververydependentoncompany。
　　Sheretainedunimpairedherintenseinterestinpolitics,andstillcorrespondedfreelywithprominentmen。Oflate,too,aslightrevivaloftheJunewarscarehadmadeitsmarkonherinacertainrejuvenescence,whichalwaysaccompaniedhercontemplationofnationalcrises,evenwhensuchwerealittleintheair。Atblastoftrumpetherspiritstillleapedforward,unsheatheditssword,andstoodatthesalute。Atsuchtimes,sheroseearlier,wenttobedlater,wasfarlesssusceptibletodraughts,andrefusedwithasperityanyfoodbetweenmeals。Shewrotetoowithherownhandletterswhichshewouldotherwisehavedictatedtohersecretary。
　　Unfortunatelythescarehaddieddownagainalmostatonce;andthepassingofdangeralwaysleftherratherirritable。LadyValleys'
　　visitcameasatimelyconsolation。
　　Shekissedherdaughtercritically;fortherewasthatabouthermannerwhichshedidnotlike。
　　"Yes,ofcourseIamwell！"shesaid。"Whydidn'tyoubringBarbara？"
　　"Shewastired！"
　　"H'm！Afraidofmeetingme,sinceshecommittedthatpieceoffollyoverEustace。Youmustbecarefulofthatchild,Gertrude,orshewillbedoingsomethingsillyherself。Idon'tlikethewayshekeepsClaudHarbingerhanginginthewind。"
　　Herdaughtercuthershort:
　　"ThereisbadnewsaboutEustace。"
　　LadyCasterleylostthelittlecolourinhercheeks;lost,too,allhersuperfluityofirritableenergy。
　　"Tellme,atonce！"
　　Havingheard,shesaidnothing;butLadyValleysnoticedwithalarmthatoverhereyeshadcomesuddenlythepeculiarfilminessofage。
　　"Well,whatdoyouadvise？"sheasked。
　　Herselftired,andtroubled,shewasconsciousofaquiteunwontedfeelingofdiscouragementbeforethissilentlittlefigure,inthesilentwhiteroom。ShehadneverbeforeseenhermotherlookasifsheheardDefeatpassingonitsdarkwings。Andmovedbysuddentendernessforthelittlefrailbodythathadbornehersolongago,shemurmuredalmostwithsurprise:
　　"Mother,dear！"
　　"Yes,"saidLadyCasterley,asifspeakingtoherself,"theboysavesthingsup;hestoreshisfeelings——theyburstandsweephimaway。
　　Firsthispassion;nowhisconscience。Therearetwomeninhim;butthiswillbethedeathofoneofthem。"Andsuddenlyturningonherdaughter,shesaid:
　　"DidyoueverhearabouthimatOxford,Gertrude？Hebrokeoutonce,andatehuskswiththeGadarenes。Youneverknew。Ofcourse——youneverhaveknownanythingofhim。"
　　ResentmentroseinLadyValleys,thatanyoneshouldknewhersonbetterthanherself;butshelostitagainlookingatthelittlefigure,andsaid,sighing:
　　"Well？"
　　LadyCasterleymurmured:
　　"Goaway,child;Imustthink。Yousayhe'stoconsult'Dennis？Doyouknowheraddress？AskBarbarawhenyougetbackandtelephoneittome。Andatherdaughter'skiss,sheaddedgrimly:
　　"Ishalllivetoseehiminthesaddleyet,thoughIamseventy—
　　eight。"
　　Whenthesoundofherdaughter'scarhaddied:away,sherangthebell。
　　"IfLadyValleysringsup,Clifton,don'ttakethemessage,butcallme。"AndseeingthatCliftondidnotmovesheaddedsharply:"Well？"
　　"Thereisnobadnewsofhisyounglordship'shealth,Ihope？"
　　"No。"
　　"Forgiveme,mylady,butIhavehaditonmymindforsometimetoaskyousomething。"
　　Andtheoldmanraisedhishandwithapeculiardignity,seemingtosay:YouwillexcusemethatforthemomentIamahumanbeingspeakingtoahumanbeing。
　　"Thematterofhisattachment,"hewenton,"isknowntome;ithasgivenmeacuteanxiety,knowinghislordshipasIdo,andhavingheardhimsaysomethingsingularwhenhewashereinJuly。Ishouldbegratefulifyouwouldassure——methatthereistobenohitchinhiscareer,mylady。"
　　TheexpressiononLadyCasterley'sfacewasstrangelycompoundedofsurprise,kindliness,defence,andimpatienceaswithachild。
　　"NotifIcanpreventit,Clifton,"shesaidshortly;"infact,youneednotconcernyourself。"
　　Cliftonbowed。
　　"Excusemementioningit,mylady;"aquiverranoverhisfacebetweenitslongwhitewhiskers,"buthisyounglordship'scareerismoretomethanmyown。"
　　Whenhehadlefther,LadyCasterleysatdowninalittlelowchair——
　　longshesattherebytheemptyhearth,tillthedaylight,wasallgone。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　Notfarfromthedark—haloedindeterminatelimbowheredweltthatbugbearofCharlesCourtier,thegreatHalf—TruthAuthority,hehimselfhadacoupleofroomsatfifteenshillingsaweek。TheirchiefattractionwasthatthegreatHalf—TruthLibertyhadrecommendedthem。Theytiedhimtonothing,andwereeverathisdisposalwhenhewasinLondon;forhislandlady,thoughnotboundbyagreementsotodo,lettheminsuchaway,thatshecouldturnanyoneelseoutataweek'snotice。Shewasagentlesoul,marriedtoasocialisticplumbertwentyyearshersenior。Theworthymanhadgivenhertwolittleboys,andthethreeofthemkeptherinsuchpermanentorderthattobeinthepresenceofCourtierwasthegreatestpleasuresheknew。Whenhedisappearedononeofhisnomadicmissions,explorations,oradventures,sheenclosedthewholeofhisbelongingsintwotintrunksandplacedtheminacupboardwhichsmelledalittleofmice。Whenhereappearedthetrunkswerereopened,andapowerfulscentofdriedrose—leaveswouldescape。
　　For,recognizingthemortalityofthingshuman,sheprocuredeverysummerfromhersister,thewifeofamarketgardener,aconsignmentofthiscommodity,whichshepassionatelysewedupinbags,andcontinuedtodeposityearbyyear,inCourtier'strunks。
　　This,andthewayshemadehistoast——verycrisp——andairedhislinen——verydry,werepracticallytheonlythingsshecoulddoforamannaturallyinclinedtoindependence,andaccustomedfromhismanneroflifetofendforhimself。
　　Atfirstsignsofhisdepartureshewouldgointosomeclosetorother,awayfromtheplumberandthetwomarksofhisaffection,andcryquietly;butneverinCourtier'spresencedidshedreamofmanifestinggrief——assoonweepinthepresenceofdeathorbirth,oranyotherfundamentaltragedyorjoy。Infaceoftherealitiesoflifeshehadknownfromheryouthupthevalueofthesimpleverb'sto——stare—tostandfast。'
　　AndtoherCourtierwasareality,thechiefrealityoflife,thefocusofheraspiration,themorningandtheeveningstar。
　　Therequest,thenfivedaysafterhisfarewellvisittoMrs。Noel——
　　fortheelephant—hidetrunkwhichaccompaniedhisrovings,producedherhabitualperiodofseclusion,followedbyherhabitualappearanceinhissitting—roombearinganote,andsomebagsofdriedrose——
　　leavesonatray。Shefoundhiminhisshirtsleeves,packing。
　　"Well,Mrs。Benton;offagain！"
　　Mrs。Benton,plaitingherhands,forshehadnotyetlostsomethingofthelookandmannerofalittlegirl,answeredinherflat,butserenevoice:
　　"Yes,sir;andIhopeyou'renotgoinganywhereverydangerousthistime。Ialwaysthinkyougotosuchdangerousplaces。"
　　"ToPersia,Mrs。Benton,wherethecarpetscomefrom。"
　　"Oh！yes,sir。Yourwashing'sjustcomehome。"
　　Her,apparentlycast—down,eyesstoredupawealthoflittledetails;
　　thewayhishairgrew,thesetofhisback,thecolourofhisbraces。
　　Butsuddenlyshesaidinasurprisingvoice:
　　"Youhaven'taphotographyoucouldspare,sir,toleavebehind？Mr。
　　Bentonwasonlysayingtomeyesterday,we'venothingtorememberhimby,incaseheshouldn'tcomeback。"
　　"Here'sanoldone。"
　　Mrs。Bentontookthephotograph。
　　"Oh！"shesaid;"youcanseewhoitis。"Andholdingitperhapstootightly,forherfingerstrembled,sheadded:
　　"Anote,please,sir;andthemessengerboyiswaitingfor——ananswer。"
　　Whilehereadthenoteshenoticedwithconcernhowpackinghadbroughtthebloodintohishead……
　　When,inresponsetothatnote,Courtierenteredthewell—knownconfectioner'scalledGustard's,itwasstillnotquitetea—time,andthereseemedtohimatfirstnooneintheroomsavethreemiddle—
　　agedwomenpackingsweets;theninthecornerhesawBarbara。Thebloodwasnolongerinhishead;hewaspale,walkingdownthatmahogany—colouredroomimpregnatedwiththescentofwedding—cake。
　　Barbara,too,waspale。
　　Soclosetoherthathecouldcounthereveryeyelash,andinhalethescentofherhairandclothestolistentoherstoryofMiltoun,sohesitatingly,sowistfullytold,seemedverylikebeingkeptwaitingwiththeropealreadyroundhisneck,tohearaboutanotherperson'stoothache。HefeltthistohavebeenunnecessaryonthepartofFate！Andtherecametohimperverselythememoryofthatrideoverthesun—warmedheather,whenhehadparaphrasedtheoldSiciliansong:'HerewillIsitandsing。'Hewasalongwayfromsingingnow;norwasthereloveinhisarms。Therewasinsteadacupoftea;
　　andinhisnostrilsthescentofcake,withnowandthenawhiffoforange—flowerwater。
　　"Isee,"hesaid,whenshehadfinishedtellinghim:"'Liberty'sagloriousfeast！'Youwantmetogotoyourbrother,andquoteBums？
　　Youknow,ofcourse,thatheregardsmeasdangerous。"
　　"Yes;butherespectsandlikesyou。"
　　"AndIrespectandlikehim,"answeredCourtier。
　　Oneofthemiddle—agedfemalespassed,carryingalargewhitecard—
　　boardbox;andthecreakingofherstaysbrokethehush。
　　"Youhavebeenverysweettome,"saidBarbara,suddenly。
　　Courtier'sheartstirred,asifitwereturningoverwithinhim;andgazingintohisteacup,heanswered"Allmenaredecenttotheeveningstar。Iwillgoatonceandfindyourbrother。WhenshallIbringyounews？"
　　"To—morrowatfiveI'llbeathome。"
　　Andrepeating,"To—morrowatfive,"herose。
　　Lookingbackfromthedoor,hesawherfacepuzzled,ratherreproachful,andwentoutgloomily。Thescentofcake,andorange—
　　flowerwater,thecreakingofthefemale'sstays,thecolourofmahogany,stillclungtohisnoseandears,andeyes;butwithinhimitwasalldullbaffledrage。Whyhadhenotmadethemostofthisunexpectedchance;whyhadhenotmadedesperatelovetoher？A
　　conscientiousass！Andyet——thewholethingwasabsurd！Shewassoyoung！Godknewhewouldbegladtobeoutofit。Ifhestayedhewasafraidthathewouldplaythefool。Butthememoryofherwords:
　　"Youhavebeenverysweettome！"wouldnotleavehim;northememoryofherface,sopuzzled,andreproachful。Yes,ifhestayedhewouldplaythefool！Hewouldbeaskinghertomarryamandoubleherage,ofnopositionbutthatwhichhehadcarvedforhimself,andwithoutarap。Andhewouldbeaskingherinsuchawaythatshemightpossiblyhavesomelittledifficultyinrefusing。Hewouldbelettinghimselfgo。Andshewasonlytwenty——forallherwoman—of—
　　the—worldair,achild！No！Hewouldbeusefultoher,ifpossible,thisonce,andthenclearout！
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　WhenMiltounleftValleysHousehewalkedinthedirectionofWestminster。DuringthefivedaysthathehadbeenbackinLondonhehadnotyetenteredtheHouseofCommons。Aftertheseclusionofhisillness,hestillfeltayearning,almostpainful,towardsthemovementandstirofthetown。Everythingheheardandsawmadeanintenselyvividimpression。ThelionsinTrafalgarSquare,thegreatbuildingsofWhitehall,filledhimwithasortofexultation。Hewaslikeaman,who,afteralongseavoyage,firstcatchessightofland,andstandsstraininghiseyes,hardlybreathing,takinginonebyonethelostfeaturesofthatface。HewalkedontoWestminsterBridge,andgoingtoanembrasureintheverycentre,lookedbacktowardsthetowers。
　　Itwassaidthattheloveofthosetowerspassedintotheblood。Itwassaidthathewhohadsatbeneaththemcouldneveragainbequitethesame。Miltounknewthatitwastrue——desperatelytrue,ofhimself。Inpersonhehadsattherebutthreeweeks,butinsoulheseemedtohavebeensittingtherehundredsofyears。Andnowhewouldsittherenomore！Analmostfranticdesiretofreehimselffromthiscoilroseupwithinhim。Tobeheldaprisonerbythatmostsecretofallhisinstincts,theinstinctforauthority！Tobeunabletowieldauthoritybecausetowieldauthoritywastoinsultauthority。God！Itwashard！Heturnedhisbackonthetowers;andsoughtdistractioninthefacesofthepassers—by。
　　Eachofthese,heknew,hadhisstruggletokeepself—respect！Orwasitthattheywereunconsciousofstruggleorofself—respect,andjustletthingsdrift？Theylookedlikethat,mostofthem！Andallhisinherentcontemptfortheaverageorcommonwelledupashewatchedthem。Yes,theylookedlikethat！Ironically,thesightofthosefromwhomhehaddesiredthecomfortofcompromise,servedinsteadtostimulatethatpartofhimwhichrefusedtolethimcompromise。Theylookedsoft,soggy,withoutprideorwill,asthoughtheyknewthatlifewastoomuchforthem,andhadshamefullyacceptedthefact。Theysoobviouslyneededtobetoldwhattheymightdo,andwhichwaytheyshould,go;theywouldacceptordersastheyacceptedtheirwork,orpleasures:Andthethoughtthathewasnowdebarredfromtherighttogivethemorders,rankledinhimfuriously。They,intheirturn,glancedcasuallyathistallfigureleaningagainsttheparapet,notknowinghowtheirfatewastremblinginthebalance。Histhin,sallowface,andhungryeyesgaveoneortwoofthemperhapsafeelingofinterestordiscomfort;buttomosthewasassuredlynomorethananyothermanorwomaninthehurly—
　　burly。Thatdarkfigureofconsciouspowerstrugglinginthefettersofitsownbeliefinpower,wasapieceofsculpturetheyhadneithertimenorwishtounderstand,havingnotastefortragedy——forwitnessingthehumanspiritdriventothewall。
　　Itwasfiveo'clockbeforeMiltounlefttheBridge,andpassed,likeanexile,beforethegatesofChurchandState,onhiswaytohisuncle'sClub。HestoppedtotelegraphtoAudreythetimehewouldbecomingto—morrowafternoon;andonleavingthePost—Office,noticedinthewindowoftheadjoiningshopsomereproductionsofoldItalianmasterpieces,amongstthemoneofBotticelli's'BirthofVenus。'Hehadneverseenthatpicture;and,rememberingthatshehadtoldhimitwasherfavourite,hestoppedtolookatit。Averagelywellversedinsuchmatters,asbecameoneofhiscaste,Miltounhadnotthepoweroflettingaworkofartinsidiouslystealtheprivateselffromhissoul,andreplaceitwiththeselfofalltheworld;andheexaminedthisfar—famedpresentmentoftheheathengoddesswithaloofness,evenirritation。Thedrawingofthebodyseemedtohimcrude,thewholepicturealittleflatandEarly;hedidnotlikethefigureoftheFlora。Thegoldenserenity,andtenderness,ofwhichshehadspoken,lefthimcold。Thenhefoundhimselflookingattheface,andslowly,butwithuncannycertainty,begantofeelthathewaslookingatthefaceofAudreyherself。Thehairwasgoldenanddifferent,theeyesgreyanddifferent,themouthalittlefuller;
　　yet——itwasherface;thesameovalshape,thesamefar—apart,archedbrows,thesamestrangelytender,elusivespirit。And,asthoughoffended,heturnedandwalkedon。Inthewindowofthatlittleshopwastheeffigyofherforwhomhehadbarteredawayhislife——theincarnationofpassiveandentwininglove,thatgentlecreature,whohadgivenherselftohimsoutterly,forwhomlove,andtheflowers,andtrees,andbirds,music,thesky,andthequick—flowingstreams,wereall—sufficing;andwho,likethegoddessinthepicture,seemedwonderingatherownexistence。Hehadasuddenglimpseofunderstanding,strangeindeedinonewhohadsolittlepowerofseeingintoothers'hearts:Oughtsheevertohavebeenbornintoaworldlikethis？Buttheflashofinsightyieldedquicklytothatsickeningconsciousnessofhisownposition,whichneverlefthimnow。Whateverelsehedid,hemustgetridofthatmalaise！Butwhatcouldhedointhatcominglife？Writebooks？Whatsortofbookscouldhewrite？Onlysuchasexpressedhisviewsofcitizenship,hispoliticalandsocialbeliefs。Aswellremainsittingandspeakingbeneaththosetowers！Hecouldneverjointhehappybandofartists,thosesoftandindeterminatespirits,forwhombarriershadnomeaning,content—tounderstand,interpret,andcreate。Whatshouldhebedoinginthatgalley？Thethoughtwasinconceivable。AcareerattheBar——yes,hemighttakethatup;buttowhatend？Tobecomeajudge！Aswellcontinuetositbeneaththosetowers！Toolatefordiplomacy。ToolatefortheArmy;
　　besides,hehadnotthefaintesttasteformilitaryglory。BuryhimselfinthecountrylikeUncleDennis,andadministeroneofhisfather'sestates？Itwouldbedeath。Goamongstthepoor？Foramomenthethoughthehadfoundanewvocation。Butinwhatcapacity——toordertheirlives,whenhehimselfcouldnotorderhisown;or,asamereconduitpipeformoney,whenhebelievedthatcharitywasrottingthenationtoitscore？Attheheadofeveryavenuestoodanangelordevilwithdrawnsword。Andthentherecametohimanotherthought。SincehewasbeingcastforthfromChurchandState,couldhenotplaythefallenspiritlikeaman——beLucifer,anddestroy！
　　Andinstinctivelyheatoncesawhimselfreturningtothosetowers,andbeneaththemcrossingthefloor;joiningtherevolutionaries,theRadicals,thefreethinkers,scourginghispresentParty,thepartyofauthorityandinstitutions。Theideastruckhimassupremelycomic,andhelaughedoutloudinthestreet……
　　TheClubwhichLordDennisfrequentedwasinSt。James'suntouchedbythetidesofthewatersoffashion——steadilyswingingtoitsmooringsinaquietbackwater,andMiltounfoundhisuncleinthelibrary。HewasreadingavolumeofBurton'stravels,anddrinkingtea。
　　"Nobodycomeshere,"hesaid,"so,inspiteofthatwordonthedoor,weshalltalk。Waiter,bringsomemoretea,please。"
　　Impatiently,butwithasortofpity,MiltounwatchedLordDennis'surbanemovements,whereinoldagewas,pathetically,tryingtomakeeachlittlethingseemimportant,ifonlytothedoer。Nothinghisgreat—unclecouldsaywouldoutweighthewarningofhispicturesqueoldfigure！Tobeabystander;toseeitallgopastyou;toletyourswordrustinitssheath,asthispooroldfellowhaddone！ThenotionofexplainingwhathehadcomeaboutwasparticularlyhatefultoMiltoun;butsincehehadgivenhisword,henervedhimselfwithsecretanger,andbegan:
　　"Ipromisedmymothertoaskyouaquestion,UncleDennis。Youknowofmyattachment,Ibelieve？"
　　LordDennisnodded。
　　"Well,Ihavejoinedmylifetothislady's。Therewillbenoscandal,butIconsideritmydutytoresignmyseat,andleavepubliclifealone。Isthatrightorwrongaccordingto,yourview？"
　　LordDennislookedathisnephewinsilence。Afaintflushcolouredhisbrowncheeks。Hehadtheappearanceofonetravellinginmindoverthepast。
　　"Wrong,Ithink,"hesaid,atlast。
　　"Why,ifImayask？"
　　"Ihavenotthepleasureofknowingthislady,andamthereforesomewhatinthedark;butitappearstomethatyourdecisionisnotfairtoher。"
　　"Thatisbeyondme,"saidMiltoun。
　　LordDennisansweredfirmly:
　　"Youhaveaskedmeafrankquestion,expectingafrankanswer,I
　　suppose？"
　　Miltounnodded。
　　"Then,mydear,don'tblamemeifwhatIsayisunpalatable。"
　　"Ishallnot。"
　　"Good！Yousayyouaregoingtogiveuppubliclifeforthesakeofyourconscience。Ishouldhavenocriticismtomakeifitstoppedthere。"
　　Hepaused,andforquiteaminuteremainedsilent,evidentlysearchingforwordstoexpresssomeintricatethreadofthought。
　　"Butitwon't,Eustace;thepublicmaninyouisfarstrongerthantheother。Youwantleadershipmorethanyouwantlove。Yoursacrificewillkillyouraffection;whatyouimagineisyourlossandhurt,willprovetobethislady'sintheend。"
　　Miltounsmiled。
　　LordDenniscontinuedverydrylyandwithatouchofmalice:
　　"Youarenotlisteningtome;butIcanseeverywellthattheprocesshasbegunalreadyunderneath。There'sacuriousstreakoftheJesuitinyou,Eustace。Whatyoudon'twanttosee,youwon'tlookat。"
　　"Youadviseme,then,tocompromise？"
　　"Onthecontrary,Ipointoutthatyouwillbecompromisingifyoutrytokeepbothyourconscienceandyourlove。Youwillbeseekingtohave,itbothways。"
　　"Thatisinteresting。"
　　"Andyouwillfindyourselfhavingitneither,"saidLordDennissharply。
　　Miltounrose。"Inotherwords,you,liketheothers,recommendmetodesertthisladywholovesme,andwhomIlove。Andyet,Uncle,theysaythatinyourowncase————"
　　ButLordDennishadrisen,too,havinglostalltheappanageandmannerofoldage。
　　"Ofmyowncase,"hesaidbluntly,"wewon'ttalk。Idon'tadviseyoutodesertanyone;youquitemistakeme。Iadviseyoutoknowyourself。AndItellyoumyopinionofyou——youwerecutoutbyNatureforastatesman,notalover！There'ssomethingdried—upinyou,Eustace;I'mnotsurethereisn'tsomethingdried—upinallourcaste。We'vehadtodowithformsandceremoniestoolong。We'renotgoodattakingthelyricalpointofview。"
　　"Unfortunately,"saidMiltoun,"Icannot,tofitinwithatheoryofyours,commitabaseness。"
　　LordDennisbeganpacingupanddown。Hewaskeepinghislipsclosedverytight。
　　"Amanwhogivesadvice,"hesaidatlast,"isalwayssomethingofafool。Forallthat,youhavemistakenmine。Iamnotsopresumptuousastoattempttoentertheinnerchamberofyourspirit。
　　Ihavemerelytoldyouthat,inmyopinion,itwouldbemorehonesttoyourself,andfairertothislady,tocompoundwithyourconscience,andkeepbothyourloveandyourpubliclife,thantopretendthatyouwerecapableofsacrificingwhatIknowisthestrongerelementinyouforthesakeoftheweaker。Yourememberthesaying,DemocritusIthink:'eachman'snatureorcharacterishisfateorGod'。Irecommendittoyou。"
　　ForafullminuteMiltounstoodwithoutreplying,thensaid:
　　"Iamsorrytohavetroubledyou,UncleDennis。Amiddlepolicyisnousetome。Good—bye！"Andwithoutshakinghands,hewentout。
　　CHAPTERXXII
　　Inthehallsomeonerosefromasofa,andcametowardshim。ItwasCourtier。
　　"Runyoutoearthatlast,"hesaid;"Iwishyou'dcomeanddinewithme。I'mleavingEnglandto—morrownight,andtherearethingsIwanttosay。"
　　TherepassedthroughMiltoun'smindtherapidthought:'Doesheknow？'Heassented,however,andtheywentouttogether。
　　"It'sdifficulttofindaquietplace,"saidCourtier;"butthismightdo。"
　　Theplacechosenwasalittlehostel,frequentedbyracingmen,andfamedfortheexcellenceofitssteaks。Andastheysatdownoppositeeachotherinthealmostemptyroom,Miltounthought:Yes,hedoesknow！CanIstandanymoreofthis？Hewaitedalmostsavagelyfortheattackhefeltwascoming。
　　"Soyouaregoingtogiveupyourseat？"saidCourtier。
　　Miltounlookedathimforsomeseconds,beforereplying。
　　"Fromwhattown—crierdidyouhearthat？"
　　ButtherewasthatinCourtier'sfacewhichcheckedhisanger;itsfriendlinesswastransparent。
　　"Iamaboutheronlyfriend,"Courtierproceededearnestly;"andthisismylastchance——tosaynothingofmyfeelingtowardsyou,which,believeme,isverycordial。"
　　"Goon,then,"Miltounmuttered。
　　"Forgivemeforputtingitbluntly。Haveyouconsideredwhatherpositionwasbeforeshemetyou？"
　　Miltounfeltthebloodrushingtohisface,buthesatstill,clenchinghisnailsintothepalmsofhishands。
　　"Yes,yes,"saidCourtier,"butthatattitudeofmind——youusedtohaveityourself——whichdecreeseitherlivingdeath,orspiritualadulterytowomen,makesmybloodboil。Youcan'tdenythatthosewerethealternatives,andIsayyouhadtherightfundamentallytoprotestagainstthem,notonlyinwordsbutdeeds。Youdidprotest,Iknow;butthispresentdecisionofyoursisaclimbdown,asmuchastosaythatyourprotestwaswrong。"
　　Miltounrosefromhisseat。"Icannotdiscussthis,"hesaid;"I
　　cannot。"
　　"Forhersake,youmust。Ifyougiveupyourpublicwork,you'llspoilherlifeasecondtime。"
　　Miltounagainsatdown。Attheword'must'asteelyfeelinghadcometohisaid;hiseyesbegantoresembletheoldCardinal's。"Yournatureandmine,Courtier,"hesaid,"aretoofarapart;weshallneverunderstandeachother。"
　　"Nevermindthat,"answeredCourtier。"Admittingthosetwoalternativestobehorrible,whichyouneverwouldhavedoneunlessthefactshadbeenbroughthometoyoupersonally"That,"saidMiltounicily,"Idenyyourrighttosay。"
　　"Anyway,youdoadmitthem——ifyoubelieveyouhadnottherighttorescueher,onwhatprincipledoyoubasethatbelief？"
　　Miltounplacedhiselbowonthetable,andleaninghischinonhishand,regardedthechampionoflostcauseswithoutspeaking。Therewassuchaturmoilgoingonwithinhimthatwithdifficultyhecouldforcehislipstoobeyhim。
　　"Bywhatrightdoyouaskmethat？"hesaidatlast。HesawCourtier'sfacegrowscarlet,andhisfingerstwistingfuriouslyatthoseflame—likemoustaches;buthisanswerwasassteadilyironicalasusual。
　　"Well,Icanhardlysitstill,mylasteveninginEngland,withoutliftingafinger,whileyouimmolateawomantowhomIfeellikeabrother。I'lltellyouwhatyourprincipleis:Authority,unjustorjust,desirableorundesirable,mustbeimplicitlyobeyed。Tobreakalaw,nomatteronwhatprovocation,orforwhosesake,istobreakthecommandment"
　　"Don'thesitate——say,ofGod。"
　　"OfaninfalliblefixedPower。Isthatatruedefinitionofyourprinciple？"
　　"Yes,"saidMiltoun,betweenhisteeth,"Ithinkso。"